Mobile device operating mode alteration

ABSTRACT

A mobile device, having at least one messaging system, a user interface element having variable intensity lighting, a frequency alteration module having selectable frequency modes, an operating mode switch and a data processor coupled to the messaging system, the user interface element, the frequency alteration module and the operating mode switch. The data processor includes at least one software application configured, following the operating mode switch actuation, to adjust the lighting intensity of the user interface element, to change the frequency mode of the frequency alteration module and to provide a customized output. The customized output aggregates the at least one mobile device messaging system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mobile devices and more particularly tothe method of operating mode alterations in mobile devices.

BACKGROUND

The conventional mobile device includes a display and a keypad forfacilitating data entry by the user. Usage of mobile device in certainenvironmental conditions, such as darkened environment, is obtrusive duethe lighting of the screen and other factors. A solution for thisproblem is required.

The following publications are believed to represent the current stateof the art:

U.S. Patent Nos.: U.S. Pat. No. 8,184,423; U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,491; U.S.Pat. No. 6,246,761; U.S. Pat. No. 8,063,869 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,117,019.

U.S. Patent Publication Nos.: US20040127198; US20090307616;US20040012556 and US20080045207.

International Patent and Publication Nos. EP1701331 and EP1892612.

SUMMARY

The present invention seeks to provide a mobile device with improvedcapabilities.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention a mobile device, having at least one messaging system, a userinterface element having variable intensity lighting, a frequencyalteration module having selectable frequency modes, an operating modeswitch and a data processor coupled to the messaging system, the userinterface element, the frequency alteration module and the operatingmode switch. The data processor includes at least one softwareapplication configured, following the operating mode switch actuation,to adjust the lighting intensity of the user interface element, tochange the frequency mode of the frequency alteration module and toprovide a customized output. The customized output aggregates the atleast one mobile device messaging system.

Preferably, said frequency alteration module is configured to enableselection between a first frequency mode and a second frequency mode.

Advantageously, the first frequency mode provides an audio signal andthe second frequency mode provides a vibration signal.

Preferably, said messaging system is selected from the group consistingof SMS, Email, MMS, chat clients and social networks clients.

Preferably, said customized output is displayed on the at least one ofsaid user interface elements.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention a method of controlling an operating mode of a mobile device,including the following steps: providing at least one messaging system,providing a user interface element having variable intensity lighting,providing a frequency alteration module having selectable frequencymodes, providing an operating mode switch, and providing a dataprocessor coupled to the messaging system, the user interface element,the frequency alteration module and the operating mode switch. The dataprocessor includes at least one software application configured,following the operating mode switch actuation, to adjust the lightingintensity of the user interface element, to change the frequency mode ofthe frequency alteration module and to provide a customized output. Thecustomized output aggregates the at least one mobile device messagingsystem.

Preferably, said frequency alteration module is configured to enableselection between a first frequency mode and a second frequency mode.

Advantageously, the first frequency mode provides an audio signal andthe second frequency mode provides a vibration signal.

Preferably, said messaging system is selected from the group consistingof SMS, Email, MMS, chat clients and social networks clients.

Preferably, said customized output is displayed on the at least one ofsaid user interface elements.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention an operating mode switch for controlling a mobile devicehaving at least one messaging system according to a first and a secondoperating modes. Actuation of the operating mode is configured toautomatically switch from the first operating mode to the secondoperating mode wherein in the second operating mode, visualcharacteristic change, audio characteristic change and aggregation ofthe at least one messaging systems occurs simultaneously.

Preferably, said audio characteristic change is configured to enableselection between a first audio mode and a second audio mode.

Preferably, the first audio mode provides an audio signal and the secondaudio mode provides a vibration signal.

Advantageously, said visual characteristic change is configured toenable variation of lighting intensity of the mobile device.

Preferably, said messaging system is selected from the group consistingof SMS, Email, MMS, chat clients and social networks clients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of the main screen appearance inaccordance to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of the settings screen appearance inaccordance to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified illustration of the customized output screen inthe actuated operating mode switch stage in accordance to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a simplified flow chart depicting, by way of overview, themethod of operating mode alteration employed in accordance to oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a mobile device 100and a method of mobile device operating mode alteration. Mobile deviceis for example, a cellular phone, a tablet, a net book, a smart-phone,an electronic book reader or any other type of mobile or portableelectronic device.

The mobile device 100 has at least one user interface element 102, suchas a display, a keypad, input buttons or a touch screen. The at leastone user interface element 102 preferably has variable intensitylighting, such that the intensity of the backlight provided to the atleast one user interface element 102 can be manually adjusted by a useror automatically adjusted using a particular software in order to suitdifferent environmental conditions.

The mobile device 100 also has an audio device and a vibration device. Afrequency alteration module having selectable frequency modes is coupledto the mobile device and is configured to selectably change the outputmode of the mobile device from audial to tactile mode and vice versa orthe combination thereof, whereas audial output is preferably provided byan audio device, such as a speaker and tactile output is preferablyprovided by a vibration device, such as a vibration speaker. The severalselectable frequency modes of the frequency alteration module can bechanged either manually by the user or automatically using particularsoftware in order to suit different environmental conditions

The mobile device 100 additionally has at least one messaging system,such as for example, SMS, MMS, Email, chat and various social networkmessaging systems.

The mobile device 100 includes a data processor that controls theoverall operation of the device and is preferably coupled to the abovementioned at least one of the user interface elements 102, to the atleast one of the messaging systems and to the frequency alterationmodule. Different software applications can be integrated to the mobiledevice data processor in order to control the mobile device operatingmode.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that an operatingmode switch is coupled to the mobile device data processor and asoftware is configured to perform a pre-defined set of alterations tothe operating mode of the mobile device, upon actuation of the operatingmode switch. The particular pre-defined set of alterations performedupon the actuation of the operating mode switch are described in detailhereinbelow:

The variable lighting intensity of the at least one of the userinterface elements 102, which may be the display of the mobile device,is automatically changed. The intensity of the back lighting ispreferably decreased to suit dark environmental conditions and the textfont lighting may be increased to allow reading.

The selectable frequency mode of the frequency alteration module ispreferably adjusted to provide a tactile output and avoid audial outputin order to suit certain environmental conditions.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that simultaneously,upon operating mode switch actuation, a customized output 104 isprovided. The customized output typically aggregates the at least onemessaging system of the mobile device 100. For example, if SMS messagingapplication, EMAIL application and a certain chat application areconfigured on the mobile device 100, all of these applications areaggregated and displayed on a single screen, which constitutes thecustomized output 104.

It is appreciated that other features provided in the mobile device 100may be altered by employing the operating mode switch, such as forexample, text font style, text font size, mobile device displaybrightness. These features may be altered simultaneously with theoperating mode switch actuation or may be alternatively manually changedby the user immediately after the operating mode switch actuation.

The customized output 104 allows for exposing the user to a limitedamount of mobile device functionalities, which are all aggregated intoone screen.

It is appreciated that upon first operating mode switch actuation, theuser is requested to define the initial settings, generally as follows:

1) The user actuates the operating mode switch, for example bymechanically pushing a button or actuation by means of a touch screen.

2) Main screen of the customized output is presented, having an optionto choose “Settings”.

3) The user chooses the “Settings”.

4) The user adjusts at least one of the features of the at least one ofuser interface elements, such as for example, back illumination, textfont style, text font size or mobile device display brightness andpresses “Apply” option.

Following the above mentioned initial setting process, the customizedoutput 104 will be provided upon actuation of the operating mode switchin such a manner that the initial settings as noted above areautomatically applied.

It is appreciated that the actuation of the operating mode switch aswell as termination on and off may be performed manually by the user andmay be alternatively performed automatically by means of a software.

The main screen upon actuation of the operating mode switch preferablyhas several options as generally described in the simplified main screenillustration of FIG. 1.

It is seen in FIG. 1 that the user has an option to actuate theoperating mode switch, to enter the settings or exit.

The settings screen that appears upon actuation of the operating modeswitch preferably has several options as generally described in thesimplified settings screen illustration of FIG. 2.

It is seen in FIG. 2 that the user has several options, for example, tochange text color, preferably to white or grey. There is an option ofchanging the text font style and the text font size. Additionally, thereis an option to apply the settings or exit.

The customized output screen 104 in the actuated operating mode switchstage preferably has several options as generally described in thesimplified customized output screen illustration of FIG. 3.

It is seen in FIG. 3 that upon actuation of the operating mode switch,the light intensity of the at least one of the user interface elementsis decreased, the brightness of the display is adjusted as per theapplied settings and an aggregated list from the at least one messagingsystem of the mobile device is displayed on the customized output screen104.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a simplified flow chartillustration of the mobile device operating mode alteration method. Itis seen in FIG. 4 that the user can choose any particular message fromthe aggregated list of messages and compose a reply.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that a window forcomposing a reply is implemented in such a manner that the incomingmessage is not quoted, rather the window is blank and ready for textentry.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited by what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present inventionincludes both combinations and sub combinations of various featuresdescribed hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereofwhich are not in the prior art.

1. A mobile device, comprising: at least one messaging system; a userinterface element having variable intensity lighting; a frequencyalteration module having selectable frequency modes; an operating modeswitch; and a data processor coupled to said messaging system, said userinterface element, said frequency alteration module and said operatingmode switch, wherein said data processor includes at least one softwareapplication configured, following the operating mode switch actuation,to adjust the lighting intensity of said user interface element, tochange the frequency mode of said frequency alteration module and toprovide a customized output, wherein said customized output aggregatessaid at least one mobile device messaging system.
 2. A mobile deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said frequency alteration module isconfigured to enable selection between a first frequency mode and asecond frequency mode.
 3. A mobile device according to claim 2, whereinthe first frequency mode provides an audio signal and the secondfrequency mode provides a vibration signal.
 4. A mobile device accordingto claim 1, wherein said messaging system is selected from the groupconsisting of SMS, Email, MMS, chat clients and social networks clients.5. A mobile device according to claim 1, wherein said customized outputis displayed on the at least one of said user interface elements.
 6. Amethod of controlling an operating mode of a mobile device, comprisingthe steps of: providing at least one messaging system; providing a userinterface element having variable intensity lighting; providing afrequency alteration module having selectable frequency modes; providingan operating mode switch; and providing a data processor coupled to saidmessaging system, said user interface element, said frequency alterationmodule and said operating mode switch, wherein said data processorincludes at least one software application configured, following theoperating mode switch actuation, to adjust the lighting intensity ofsaid user interface element, to change the frequency mode of saidfrequency alteration module and to provide a customized output, whereinsaid customized output aggregates said at least one mobile devicemessaging system.
 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein saidfrequency alteration module is configured to enable selection between afirst frequency mode and a second frequency mode.
 8. A method accordingto claim 7, wherein the first frequency mode provides an audio signaland the second frequency mode provides a vibration signal.
 9. A methodaccording to claim 6, wherein said messaging system is selected from thegroup consisting of SMS, Email, MMS, chat clients and social networksclients.
 10. A mobile device according to claim 6, wherein saidcustomized output is displayed on the at least one of said userinterface elements.
 11. An operating mode switch for controlling amobile device having at least one messaging system according to a firstand a second operating modes, actuation of said operating mode isconfigured to automatically switch from said first operating mode tosaid second operating mode wherein in said second operating mode, visualcharacteristic change, audio characteristic change and aggregation ofsaid at least one messaging systems occurs simultaneously.
 12. Anoperating mode switch according to claim 11, wherein said audiocharacteristic change is configured to enable selection between a firstaudio mode and a second audio mode.
 13. An operating mode switchaccording to claim 12, wherein the first audio mode provides an audiosignal and the second audio mode provides a vibration signal.
 14. Anoperating mode switch according to claim 11, wherein said visualcharacteristic change is configured to enable variation of lightingintensity of the mobile device.
 15. An operating mode switch accordingto claim 11, wherein said messaging system is selected from the groupconsisting of SMS, Email, MMS, chat clients and social networks clients.